Question for clinicians about work schedule...

[blueberryboat]

Right now I'm trying to pick what I am going to do...I'm 3 years into undergraduate and i just got in to CSU San Marcos for a kinesiology major w/ a 3.0 GPA from community college. My plan was to be a physical therapist but a knee injury and chronic pain in my knee is making me question whether or not I would be able to perform the duties of a PT without discomfort. Before, I thought having a physically demanding job was a plus bc I would stay in shape but now it's looking like it might make my knee pain worse..

So I am considering the clinician route and I am wondering...of the clinicians, which ones require less physically demanding work and which ones would be able to provide a more 9-5 time of work schedule without that many night/weekend shifts...or do weird hours usually go hand-in-hand with the clinician route?

Thx for your time!

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[berlfe03]

I don't have an answer for you, more of a comment. I am not sure that a physical therapist's job has to be physically labor intensive. When I went to physical therapy, the actual physical therapist assessed me and came up with a treatment plan, and her assistants were the ones that showed me the exercises and did all the heavy work.

 

[jacketwrestler]

Something that doesn't require you to be on your feet too much, or at least doesn't require you to move too fast: Clinical lab specialist (no patient contact, usually a B.S. degree, gets paid about the same as RN's in my hospital), Ultrasound (usually sit and take images but have to push around a big ultrasoud machine around the hospital, certificate, pay about same as RN). Also, most doctors don't do physically demanding work except standing for long periods at times.. so possibly MD or PA- of course depends on specialty.

 

[blueberryboat]

oh, and specifically im trying to pick between RN, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician's Assistant

 

[Paseo Del Norte]

oh, and specifically im trying to pick between RN, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician's Assistant

You have to be a RN to be a NP, therefore, you are trying to pick between NP and PA.

So, you will have to go to nursing school and spend time lifting and staying on your feet. If you are lucky, you may be able to enter a NP program as a new grad; however, the DNP stuff may dictate that you spent more time as a student.

As a PA, you can apply with a BS assuming your GPA is competitive and you have the requisite science, humanities, and arts courses under your belt in addition to a good GRE score.

IMHO, you are most likely going to have more opportunities open as a PA. Many NP's are highly specialized in areas such as psych, while PA school will cover a multitude of areas. You have allot of freedom of choice and are not necessarily bound to a specific area.

Personally, the PA route may be your best bet if you are willing to spend a couple of years suffering through PA school.

 

[blueberryboat]

So the PA would be more likely to have "normal" hours? i.e. begin in the morning, end in the late evening, and weekends off

 

[Paseo Del Norte]

So the PA would be more likely to have "normal" hours? i.e. begin in the morning, end in the late evening, and weekends off

Potentially, depends on your job. Do not expect normal hours while in school. I did a rotation in nursing school where I met a PA student doing a primary care rotation with a family practice doctor. The student's hours were less than ideal by your standards. In addition, the PA students I met when I worked ER full time did not exactly have ideal hours.

 

[bradt9881]

And there are many PA jobs that require you to work weekends and nights. In fact, most of the best paying jobs will require it, and even those that are technically M-F 8-5 can require call and hospital rounds.

Bottom line. If you want bankers hours, go work at a bank. Don't choose health care, which is open 24-7 for business.

 

[blueberryboat]

got it thx for your replies

 

[gonj]

sorry to go off on a tangent, but since it was brought up -

Clinical lab specialist (no patient contact, usually a B.S. degree, gets paid about the same as RN's in my hospital)

there is apparently huge variation in pay if jw is referring to clinical lab scientists (previously aka med technologists). around here, even experienced CLSs make far less than new grad RNs. i was tempted to do CLS instead of nursing...

 

[lapelirroja]

sorry to go off on a tangent, but since it was brought up -



there is apparently huge variation in pay if jw is referring to clinical lab scientists (previously aka med technologists). around here, even experienced CLSs make far less than new grad RNs. i was tempted to do CLS instead of nursing...

Agreed. I'm a Med Tech (CLS is just another certifying agency) and we don't make anywhere near nurses for the same goddamn degree.

 

[jacketwrestler]

really? Just looked up the CLS position at my hospital listing again and it states 31.48 - 40.30 hourly, with at least 8 or so positions open. And my hospital is notorious for underpaying.